News for Merritt Centennials

BCHL Update – Week 7 – Chiefs still #1

Here’s a quick look at the BCHL standings, top scorers and goalies after Week 7.

Mainland Division – Chiefs, Express and Spruce Kings on top

The league leading Chilliwack Chiefs maintained their three point lead over Coquitlam Express in the Mainland Division, with 2W and 1L on the weekend. The Chiefs dropped game 1 on Friday 4-2 to the visiting Victoria Grizzlies, then edged Langley 5-4 on Saturday and Cowichcan Valley 3-2 Sunday.

The Express meanwhile played only two games over the week, defeating Penticton 3-2 in a shoot-out in Penticton (2,931 attendance) on Wednesday and then defeating Cowichan Valley 5-2 back home on Saturday.

The Express are in good shape, though, with two games in hand on the Chiefs.

There was also no change in the standings for the Prince George Spruce Kings – they’re still two back of the Express in the third place of the Mainland Division, with 25 points, also posting 2W-1L over the weekend.

The Spruce Kings started with a 5-2 win in Trail on Friday, then backed it up with a 4-1 win in Wenatchee on Saturday, before making the long trip back up to Salmon Arm overnight for a game the Shaw Centre on Sunday, which they lost 2-1.

Langley Rivermen are five points back of PG, and five points ahead of last place Surrey Eagles.

Island Division – Grizzlies and Kings separate from pack

On the Island, the Victoria Grizzlies maintained their three point lead on #2 Powell River Kings, while both increased their lead over the trailing Bulldogs, Clippers and Capitals.

Alberni are now seven back of the Kings and ten back of the Grizzlies in third place.

The Grizzlies posted a 2W-1L record on the weekend. They started with a 4-2 win on the road against #1 Chilliwack on Friday, and then lost 4-2 in Merritt Saturday, before finishing with a 6-2 win over Surrey on Sunday afternoon.

Powell River played just two games on the weekend, winning both contests, at home. On Friday they edged Vernon 3-2 in a shoot-out, with both the first and second overtime shooters scoring. Mitchell Williams got the first and Matt Fawcett followed up to close out the game. On Saturday the Kings defeated Nanaimo 4-1.

Interior Division – Cents on top but division still extremely close.

The Merritt Centennials continue to hold on to top place in the Interior division, with a 12-8-0 record, and a three point lead over Salmon Arm and West Kelowna, and a four point lead over Penticton and Wenatchee.

Vernon is one back of Wenatchee, and one up on seventh place Trail.

A total of just six points separate Trail from the leaders.

Merritt split two games at home this weekend, losing 6-1 to the Vees in the opener Friday night before rebounding with a 4-2 win vs Victoria on Saturday.

Salmon Arm Silverbacks played three games on the weekend, losing the first 4-1 in West Kelowna Friday before posting two winss at home. The ‘Backs downed Trail 4-2 on Saturday and finished with the 2-1 win over Prince George on Sunday.

After posting the 4-1 win over the ‘Backs on Friday, West Kelowna travelled to Penticton on Saturday, and came away with a 5-3 EN win. Chase Dubois lead with three assists, the first two on Lucas Cullen’s two goals.

Scroll down for standings.

Scoring Leaders:

A big week by Surrey’s Ty Westgard (98-Surrey) moved him into sole possession of first place at the top of the scoring stats with 8G-23A, 31 points in 21 games, a point ahead of Victoria’s Alex Newhook (01-St. John’s, NF) who is now alone in second place. Both players put up six points on the week.

Chilliwack’s Kevin Wall (00-Fairport, NY) and last week’s leader, Bradley Cocca of Merritt (99, Mississauga) are tied with 27 points in third place overall.

Wall is tied with Ben Brar of PG in overall goals scored with 15.

Chilliwack’s Harrison Blaisdell, an Abbotsford native (01), is one back of Wall in goals, and fifth overall with 14G-10A in 21 games. Nick Granowich of Merritt is tied with Blaisdell with 12G-12A.

North Vancouver native, Carter Berger is the lone D-man in the Top 20, at #13, with 10G-11A in 20 games, for the Victoria Grizzlies.

Six BC-based players are in the Top 20.

Scroll down for scoring leader stats.

Top ‘Tenders (10 starts minimum)

Victoria’s Curtis Chapman is still on top of the goalie pyramid with the best save percentage, at .942, and 11W-6L in 17 games, posting 2W-1L in his last three outings.

Kolby Matthews of the Coquitlam Express is second overall in save percentage with .923, with Langley’s Braedon Fleming right behind at .922.

Penticton’s Jack LaFontaine has the best GAA of goalies with a minimum of 10 starts, at 2.08. Hayden Missler of Powell River is just 1.79 but with only seven games played so far.

Chilliwack’s Mathieu Caron, a 2000 birth year, is fourth overall at .916. He continues to post the best winning record, with 14W-6L in 20 games, and the most starts of all goalies so far.